MTC inducts 24 into National Adult Education Honor Society

(Bradenton, FL—May 2, 2016)   Manatee Technical College inducted 24 students into the National Adult Education Honor Society on April 28.  The ceremony for the school’s adult general education students was held in the Bayshore High School Auditorium, next door to the Adult Education Center.

The students chosen for this honor are in the top two percent of their class. About half the inductees are working towards their GEDs, and the other half are learning English as a second language.  The Manatee adult education programs serve over 1,500 students.

“I have never in my life been recognized for my work like this before,” said David Harvey.  Harvey, 53, said he dropped out of high school to enlist in the military.  After serving for six years, he worked in building and masonry trades.  He wanted to get his GED to prove to himself he could do it.  “It makes me so proud,” he said.  Harvey is also enrolled in the Drafting program at MTC and was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society as well just nine days prior.  He will graduate from both programs in June.

The induction ceremony was an hour filled with heart-warming stories of perseverance and achievement. Family members, friends and instructors pinned each of the inductees.  Board chair Karen Carpenter, special assistant to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, Gary Tibbetts, and adult career and technical education director Doug Wagner shook their hands as they received their honors.

“Tonight we recognize not only the students who have impressed us with their hard work, their consistent and exceptional efforts and their superior achievements,” said MTC assistant director Linda Agresta, “but also their families and friends who have enabled them to work so hard.”  This was the last induction ceremony for Agresta, who is retiring at the end of May after 39 years in education, the last 11 of which have been at MTC.

The mission of the National Adult Education Honor Society is to provide meaningful recognition to deserving adult education students, to improve student employment opportunities, to develop student ambassadors for local adult education programs, and to create adult education awareness with school administrators and state legislators.  The MTC chapter is named for Lee Carter Brown, a strong advocate of literacy programs.